Main man: Wan Junaidi shaking hands with officials after arriving at the Kuching International Airport. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has pledged to serve his “beloved” Sarawak following his appointment as the eighth Yang di-Pertua Negeri of the state.
“Finally, after so much speculation, by the grace and will of God, it has happened.
“Now, I will continue to serve my beloved state of Sarawak by the trust bestowed upon me by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the consent of my Premier and Prime Minister.
“I shall do my best to serve the functions of my office,” he said in a brief response to The Star yesterday.
He thanked those who had expressed their well wishes to him.
The appointment of Wan Junaidi, 77, took effect on Friday. The four-year term will run until Jan 26, 2028.
He replaces Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud who held the post for three terms from March 1, 2014.
Wan Junaidi, formerly the Dewan Negara president, received the instrument of appointment from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah in a ceremony at Istana Negara on Friday.
Born in Kampung Pendam (now Sadong Jaya), Sarawak on Feb 1, 1946, Wan Junaidi’s illustrious career began with the police force in 1964 and the Police Field Force from 1968 to 1973, serving in the Rajang Area Security Command, among others.
A trained lawyer, his political career started in 1990 after he won the Batang Lupar parliamentary seat in the general election that year.
He defended his seat over the next two terms before moving to Santubong for the 2004 general election. He held the seat for four consecutive terms till the 2022 general election.
Between 2013 and 2022, he served in several positions including deputy home minister, natural resources and environment minister, entrepreneur and cooperatives development minister, and minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law).
In 2021, Wan Junaidi played a key role in seeing to the constitutional amendments being passed in the Dewan Rakyat to place Sarawak and Sabah on equal footing under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Wan Junaidi arrived in Kuching yesterday to begin his new role.
He arrived at the Kuching International Airport on a specially chartered flight, accompanied by his wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanus.
Among those who welcomed them were Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.
Wan Junaidi is scheduled to take his oath as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak at the state assembly tomorrow.
